Liverpool signed Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window in a deal worth around £34 million.
The arrival of Ryan Gravenberch was met with mixed reactions from the media and the Liverpool fanbase. While there is no doubt that the Dutchman is a prodigious talent, his struggles at Bayern Munich meant that the hype around him had died down.
Gravenberch was struggling for regular game time in the Bundesliga, and the arrival of Thomas Tuchel pushed him further down the pecking order. The German manager came to the conclusion that the Dutchman was not the ideal fit for his preferred 4-2-3-1 setup, and he was considered as an expendable asset.
Liverpool decided to take advantage of the situation and sign the 21-year-old. The transfer was deemed as a gamble by many. But Jurgen Klopp’s decision to sign the central midfielder has paved the way for a raging success story so far.
The 21-year-old has impressed with his confident and graceful displays in the middle of the park for Liverpool. While he has not been a regular starter for the Reds, he has had ample opportunities to showcase his qualities in the Premier League and in the UEFA Europa League.
He has added physicality, technical ability, control and agility in the middle of the park. Apart from his ability to link up with his teammates and move the ball further up the pitch, the Dutchman has shown that he has the ability to evade the press and set up attacking opportunities for his teammates with his agility and flair.
In addition, the Dutchman’s exceptional first touch has certainly caught many by surprise. His ability to receive the ball in the tight areas, change direction and execute one-twos in the middle of the park has added a new dimension to Liverpool’s play-making this season.
Naturally, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is very enthused about his summer signing and the German believes that the 21-year-old is only halfway there when it comes to fulfilling his world-class potential.
It goes without saying that the Dutchman is likely to improve with coaching and experience in the coming seasons. So far, it seems like he has the attributes to develop into a world-class footballer for Liverpool. Early signs suggest that Gravenberch could be an addition similar to his compatriot and former Liverpool player Georginio Wijnaldum.
When the Dutchman arrived from Newcastle United, there were mixed reactions regarding his signing. But he proved to be an indispensable asset for Klopp and Liverpool in the following years. He was a key member of the side that helped Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League title.
Gravenberch is clearly someone with the qualities to execute a similar role at Liverpool. There is no denying that the 21-year-old Dutchman will have to work on the defensive aspects of his game, and he has plenty to learn in the coming seasons.
However, the talent and the ability are there on display every week as the Dutchman continues to silence his critics with his performances. In addition, the 21-year-old seems to be enjoying his football at Anfield, and he is playing with a smile on his face once again.
He was regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the world during his time at Ajax and his style of play drew comparisons with the Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. There is no doubt that the 21-year-old is a gifted player when it comes to technical ability.
With the right guidance, he could develop into a complete central midfielder for the Premier League giants. If he continues to perform at this level in the coming months, the £34 million transfer could prove to be a major bargain for Liverpool. As for Bayern Munich, their loss has proven to be a major gain for the Reds so far.